McAlester downs Will Rogers to move into Primus Moore Invitational finals

Jan. 5—The Lady Buffs were on a mission, and got in accomplished.

McAlester faced off against Will Rogers Friday in the Primus Moore Invitational semifinals at the McAlester Activity Center, where the Lady Buffs used a late surge to win 62-47 and advance to the championship game.

Nellie Simmons struck first for the Lady Ropers, but McAlester fired right back with buckets from Tori Kilburn and Beaduee Nystrom and a triple from Madi VanDorpe to pull into the lead. Katie Allen added another three and Nystrom another score on the way to a 13-11 McAlester lead after the opening quarter.

In the second period, Rylee Forehand drilled a three to get the Lady Buffs moving once again. Allen later added another three of her own, and six points from Nystrom put McAlester up 27-20 at the break.

The Lady Ropers looked to close the gap with a 6-4 run to start the second half of play. But points from Allen, Nystrom, VanDorpe, and Kilburn helped keep pace, with McAlester holding a 41-35 lead after three quarters.

Will Rogers hit a 5-0 run to start the fourth, trimming the McAlester lead down to one point. VanDorpe struck with an inbound triple in the corner, and points from Kilburn helped create some separation. Allen drilled another three, and free throws from VanDorpe and Avery Alberson sealed away the win.

Kilburn led McAlester with 19 points, followed by VanDorpe and Allen with 13 points each, Nystrom with 12 points, Forehand with three points, and Alberson with two points.

Morrison led Will Rogers with 25 points, Simmons with 13 points, Elizabeth Clark with six points, E'niyah Justice with two points, and Lynzie Overstreet with a free throw.

Next up for the Lady Buffs, they'll face Edmond Santa Fe in Saturday's title game at 7 p.m. The Lady Ropers will battle Jenks in the third-place game at 4 p.m.

SANTA FE 49, JENKS 36

Jenks and Edmond Santa Fe squared off in the second round of the Primus Moore Invitational Friday, where the Lady Wolves took a 49-36 win to advance to the championship.

The game started tough, with both teams trading scores. By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Wolves would hold a 15-13 lead over the Lady Trojans.

In the second quarter, Santa Fe tried to create some space on the scoreboard. But a Jenks run down the half's final minutes made it a 28-27 Lady Wolves lead heading into the locker room.

Santa Fe hit a burst of offense to start the second half, pairing it with tough defense on the way to a 42-29 lead after three quarters.

Next up for the Lady Wolves, they'll face the winner between McAlester and Will Rogers in Saturday's title game at 7 p.m. The Lady Trojans will battle the loser in the third-place game at 4 p.m.

DURANT 50, SOUTHEAST 19

Durant squared off with Southeast Saturday in the consolation semifinals of the Primus Moore Invitational, where a hot start propelled the Lady Lions to a 50-19 win.

The Lady Lions exploded out of the gate, finding an early offensive rhythm on the way to an 11-4 lead after the opening quarter. Durant kept powering its way to the half, taking a commanding 30-8 lead into the locker room.

That wave of momentum continued into the second half, with Durant running away with the win.

Ella Sorrels led Durant with 12 points, followed by Sydney Grover and Iyana Wilson with nine points each, Emma Green with six points, Emeri Morse and Abrianna Freeman with four points each, and Kennedy LaFevers and Maya Dodson with three points each.

Kyrah Davis led Southeast with nine points, Rebekah Cano had five points, Ana Martinez with four points, and Isela Sarabia with two points.

Durant will next face Muskogee in Saturday's fifth-place game at 1 p.m., while Southeast will battle Shawnee at 10 a.m. in the seventh-place game.

MUSKOGEE 45, SHAWNEE 40

Shawnee and Muskogee battled in Friday's consolation semifinal at the Primus Moore Invitational, where the Lady Roughers used a late-game push to win 45-40.

The game began with the two teams trading blows on the scoreboard, refusing to let the other get too far ahead. By the end of the first period, the Lady Wolves held a slim 16-14 lead over the Lady Wolves.

The back-and-forth continued into the second period, trading scores and the lead. Once the smoke cleared at the half, Shawnee held to a three-point lead.

Muskogee and Shawnee stayed neck-and-neck through most of the remaining minutes, but the Lady Roughers used a fourth-quarter charge to propel out in front for the win.

Malaysia Burton led the Lady Roughers with 22 points, followed by D'Mya Brown with 11 points, Aniya Thomas with six points, Jordan Campbell with four points, and Asia Ivy with two points.

Tylyn Thurman led Shawnee with 13 points, followed by Daley Rice with 11 points, Tarilyn Thierry with eight points, Chrishelle Milum with six points, and Allyson McAlister with two points.

Next up for Muskogee, the Lady Roughers will advance to the fifth-place game against Durant Saturday at 1 p.m.

Next up for Shawnee, the Lady Wolves will face Southeast at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Here is the complete girls bracket for the inaugural Primus Moore Invitational:

THURSDAY, JAN. 4

G1: McAlester 75, Muskogee 56

G2: Will Rogers 48, Shawnee 42 (2OT)

G3: Jenks 81, Southeast 18

G4: Sante Fe 54, Durant 21

FRIDAY, JAN. 5

G5: Muskogee 45, Shawnee 40

G6: Durant 50, Southeast 19

G7: Santa Fe 49, Jenks 36

G8: McAlester 62, Will Rogers 47

SATURDAY, JAN. 6

G9: Southeast vs. Shawnee, 10 a.m. (Seventh place)

G10: Durant vs. Muskogee, 1 p.m. (Fifth place)

G11: Jenks vs. Will Rogers, 4 p.m. (Third place)

G12: Santa Fe vs. McAlester, 7 p.m. (Championship)

This post will be updated following Friday's games going final.